San Angelo Spelling Bee: March 1, 2014

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Kasey Torres, third grader, slowly spells out “trajectory” before a room full of parents, grandparents, siblings and teachers. Kasey ended up winning the San Angelo competition and will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Alexis Capuchina, a fourth grader at Reagan Elementary School, attempts to spell “mosque” at Saturday’s San Angelo Spelling Bee. Alexis misspelled the word and was not able to proceed to the next round.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Twenty-six spellers from area schools say the Pledge of Allegiance before they start competing in the 2014 San Angelo Spelling Bee. The annual event was created to encourage learning and correct use of English.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Franchesca Untalan’s family members sigh as the bell goes off, indicating she misspelled the word, “chattel.” Untalan placed second in the 2014 San Angelo Spelling Bee. She also placed second in last year’s local Spelling Bee.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Kasey Torres, third grader at Cornerstone Christian School, asks the moderator to give him the origin of the word “intaglio,” as he ponders its spelling.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Frances Untalan holds her daughter, Franchesca Untalan, and the second place trophy as she speaks with Chloe Bannerman, who placed third in the San Angelo Spelling Bee.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Frances Untalan comforts her daughter, third grader Franchesca Untalan, after she got second place at Saturday’s San Angelo Spelling Bee. Franchesca also placed second at last year’s Spelling Bee.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Students fidget nervously as they await the start of the 2014 San Angelo Spelling Bee. Almost 30 spellers competed at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Nelson and Catherine Torres jump up with excitement as their son, Kasey Torres, wins first place in the San Angelo Spelling Bee. He will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Nicole Catameo, a fifth grader at McGill Elementary School, steps up to the microphone for a practice round. Almost 100 parents, grandparents and teachers showed up to watch the spellers compete.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
The top three contestants in the 2014 San Angelo Spelling Bee hang their numbers on the trophies as parents snap photos and celebrate.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Kasey Torres gives Franchesca Untalan, who got second place, some words of comfort. The two are childhood friends. With them is Chloe Bannerman, an eighth grader at San Angelo Christian Homeschoolers, who placed third in Saturday’s Spelling Bee.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Franchesca Untalan and Kasey Torres look at each other as the other spellers leave the room. The top two spellers have grown up together. Kasey made first place in Saturday’s Spelling Bee and Franchesca made second.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Raymond Untalan hands his daughter, Franchesca Untalan, and his godson, Kasey Torres, photos from their infancy. The two were friends since babies, and their parents wanted them to pose with their baby photos.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Allison Palmer comforts her daughter, Drew Palmer, a fifth grader at Santa Rita Elementary School, after Drew missed a word in the San Angelo Spelling Bee. Palmer said they may try again next year.

Monique Ching/Standard-Times
Miles Duncan (left) and Kasey Torres fidget nervously as they are down to five contestants in the San Angelo Spelling Bee.